National Republican., 1887-05-23
The Only Deapot In America.


The speaker OF the American House Of
Representatives in an absolute despot, with
more power than is possessed by the rulers
Of most of the civilized nations on the
earth.
The constitution of the country provided
law.making power, to consist Of the rep
resentatives of the states and the representa-
tives Of the people, giving each body certain
separate powers, and to both the right to
enact laws.
But the representatives OF the people
have surrendered all their powers, through
what they call rules, into the hands OF one
man, and in thus giving up their own rights
and privileges have made the speaker
despot.
The rules authorize the speaker to select
the members who shall serve on the various
committees OF the House. There are forty
seven regular and five select committees,
with usually FIVE or more special com
mittees or commissions appointed on reso-
lutions passed during the sessions.
This gives the speaker the power OF Sc
lectipg more than 1fty chairmen, most Of
whom have the right to appoint clerks,
some Of them stenographers and messer-
gers, and each Of whom controls the times
Of his committees meetings and the work
before It..
Suppose strong or corrupt man elected
speaker, having honestly decided views on
questions Of public interest, or corruptly
Influenced in regard to any Of them?
He selects chairmen for the committees
In sympathy with his views, and then, If
possible, gives him majority OF the com
mittee holding similar views. No legsla-
tion will be reported by such q com mnlttee
that is not in accord with the Speakers
views.
1t Is hardly necessary to state that all
legislation passes through the committee
rooms, each committee having certain bust.
ness assigned 1t, and all bills, petitions, or
resolutions on any subject being, by the
rules, sent to the appropriate committee.
Is 1t not absolutely certain, then, that,
with all legislation having to pass through
| the committees, the man having power
| to select the members of each committee
| can control the legislation on any subject
can force his own views upon the House,
| and prevent the consideration OF any meas
| ure he is opposed to?
Is 1t not absolutely true that this has been
| done-that the speaker has prevented leg
islation by the power he exercised in the
| selection of the committees?
A vast majority Of the people may de-
maud certain legislation. Two hundred
| and sixteen members of the House Zone
less than two-thirds) may favor 1t. The
| Senate may be unanimous for the measure;
| the President may recommend 1t, but the
| speaker, because of his right to select com
| mtteemen, can defeat 1t.
| The House surrendered its power Of leg
islation through that rule, unless two-thirds
Of the members are in favor Of measure
| and unite to suspend the rules.
! And under custom which has grown
into a monstrous abuse, even two-thirds
majority cannot overcome the speakers
power, and that Is the custom by which the
speaker refuses to recognize any one to
make motion or offer a resolution to sus-
pend the rules unless he is advised OF the
object sought to he accomplished.
The power to name the committees makes
the speaker an autocrat who controls legls-
lation. The usurpation which permits him
to require member to ask for recognition
makes him despot and the representatives
Of the American people his abiect depend.
ents.
The rule should be changed, and the
House select its comm tees as the Senate
does; that is, let each party choose the men
1t desires to have serve on the various com
mittees. Then the representatives OF the
people could frame and present legislation.
The usurpation should be overtime yn
which requires the men selected by the
people of the United States to make their
laws to approach one of their own number
and ask permission to be heard on the hoor
Of the House. The speaker should be re
quired to recognize the first man who rise:
to address him, and then let the House de-
termine whether 1t will act upon the meas.
ure he proposes.
This would be the Democratic-it would
be the Republican method; the ones now
In vogue are undemocratic, unrepublican
unworthy the representatives of FIRE,
people.
The facts are as stated. Let the press o.
the country discuss 1t and break down thes,
despotic methods in legislation.